search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
DRIVER PROFILE


COLIN BENNETT: CLACTON DRIVER TURNED RECORD BREAKER


How many taxi/PHV drivers do you know who have stood as a Member of Parlia- ment? We chatted to one last month: namely 68-year-old Colin Leslie Bennett from Clacton-on-Sea. OK – so he didn’t win the seat. But he didn’t half enjoy the cam- paign… as he has his entire working career.


There’s no appropriate way to paraphrase or summarise Colin’s background, so we’ll let him take up his story: “I was employed as a lorry driver for many years; then I started work as a taxi owner/driver in 1986 with St Osyth Taxis; and in the time I spent with the company I started several taxi firms, either on my own or as co-founder. I came up with ideas such as “Grab-a-cab” and “Hail and Ride” which were either advertising ideas, or ways to improve our trade with regard to promoting the industry to the general public.


“I spent several years with St Osyth Taxis, then started work in Colchester in 1989 hav- ing received a free hackney plate from the local council. I got the plate after I had co- founded Anglo/French Taxis with my opposite number in Calais, M. Andre Vasseur, who worked for the Calais Taxi Union. This was a taxi logistic that enabled an interna- tional working relationship between our two countries to increase continental pickups and drop-offs. This scheme received much publicity in the Daily Telegraph, and within Robert Maxwell’s European newspaper group.


“I then started a business in Colchester with several colleagues – AA Taxis. I also got per- mission to work outside the new Tesco at the Hythe, Colchester. Subsequently I sold my business and started a new business with three other drivers in Harwich at the ferry terminal. After a year or so I came back to Clacton-on-Sea and picked up my taxi business hacking from the station rank and other ranks in the town.


“Around 1997/98 Harwich had opened up a new cruise terminal around the corner from the ferry terminal, so in that year I started Portside Taxis, which is still running to this day after 20 years.


“I was still working for St Osyth Taxis when things got busy, and in 2010 after the col- lapse of the Clacton Proprietors Association I formed a new association: the Tendring District Taxi Association (TDTA), which is still in operation today – at one time having over 100 paid up members.


36


on December 12th, 2019, I found myself standing as an Independent candidate for the constituency of Clacton-on-Sea. I was one of seven candidates to stand including one from the Monster Raving Loony Party!


“I stood on a mandate of “Care in the Com- munity”, was my own agent, financed my campaign (to the tune of some £1,200!), went to hustings etc., and enjoyed every day canvassing and distributing leaflets. I did employ distributors to help out. The idea was to test the water, and to put myself out there, perhaps for later local elections.


DIVERSITY ISN’T IN IT


“I should also mention that during that time I had co-founded Bennett & Steele Song- writers, signed to Eliot Cohen of Associated Music International (AMI) and Sony/ATV (UK) writing ballads and dance music. We started in 1997 and within several years had our first Number One in Asia with a ballad, “I don’t wanna miss someone”, which stayed at number one for four weeks.


“In addition to my personal song writing, I also started a small promotions company, promoting a very good Neil Diamond trib- ute act, Blue Planet Promotions. The singer was a former cab driver, John Jones.


“Going back to my taxi work, through the Association I applied to have local business signs on our car doors and to increase the time taxi owner/drivers could run their vehi- cles, from ten to 12 years. Both were approved at a subsequent licensing meet- ing. Also I was able to help defend our members against Tendring District Council in court over the years.


“In 2012 I purchased a 1987 Rolls Royce Sil- ver Spirit to enhance my business into executive work. For a while I did weddings and prom work, which added to my work inventory; when bookings were low I entered my car into classic car show events.


“In addition, I was also getting involved with art and sport design merchandising. I had paintings on line at Art Quest as well as the Lavenham Art Centre.


AND SO TO THE HUSTINGS…


“Bringing this CV up to date, from about early 2019 I got involved in local politics, mainly due to the incessant discussions around Brexit, which I found interesting. So


“On Declaration Day, Friday 13th Dec- ember, came the results: Conservatives won with a majority of 24,000; I came sixth with 243 votes, beating the well-established MRLP by 19 votes. I loved every minute of it.


“What next? Well at 68 years old, who knows: perhaps the local election in three years’ time. I still enjoy my music; what I would really love to do (as I’ve always enjoyed writing) is to write a comedy drama.


“As for the future of our trade, check out the Terrafugia TF-X flying taxi, which hope- fully will be built by 2027 at a cost of not more than a top executive car. This idea of a sky taxi will take years to gain significant interest in our trade, but I believe there is a niche market for a top end executive sky cab. For businessmen/women who need to get where they’re going quickly for a prior- ity meeting, avoid the travel by congested roads; a 400-mile range will take them any- where in the UK, France and the Benelux countries – even Scandinavia – flying above the roads, with the possibility of rooftop landings on office buildings and hotels.


“Exciting stuff, and it will greatly help the air quality and road congestion problems.”


We leave PHTMreaders with a question: Has any other licence holder run for Parliament? Colin would be most interested to hear from any budding candidates, with a view to try to formulate not only a political interest within our fraternity; but if their views were similar, to cement that bond into a party which could meet, hold discussions, and build upon a consensus that could influence society for the good – not least to enhance all aspects of our trade.


Give us a shout, and we’ll put you in touch with Colin Bennett with pleasure.


FEBRUARY 2020


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112